Tivoli Gardens' goalkeeper, Edsel Scott, dives to make a save to deny Reno's Nicholy Finlayson in Sunday's Digicel Premier League game at the Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland. Tivoli won 1-0. - photo by Adrian Frater

Western Bureau:

Despite playing with only 10 men for most of the game after first choice goalkeeper Leon Gordon was red-carded, Tivoli Gardens still came out victorious against Reno FC on Sunday, clipping them 1-0 in the Digicel Premier Fixture at Frome Sports Ground in Westmoreland.

Tivoli Gardens' all-important goal came in the 79th minute when Owen Gordon's fabulous shot from 40 yards left goalkeeper Kevin Williams looking back in both disbelief and admiration, as the ball crashed into the roof of the net, making the score 1-0.

"We were the better team from start to finish but the referee hampered us by allowing too many blatant fouls on my players," said Tivoli Gardens' assistant coach, Max Straw. "Nonetheless, we came here for three points and we got all three, so I am happy."

However, Reno must still be cursing their luck because they scored what looked a legitimate goal, but referee Dwight Royal called back the goal to penalise an infringement against Tivoli Gardens.

The moment of controversy came in the 33rd minute when Reno's Gary McIntosh broke away from the Tivoli Gardens defence and then survived a tackle from goalkeeper Gordon, who had come outside of the penalty area to challenge him.

Play called back

After McIntosh knocked the ball into the goal, the referee called back the play, red-carded Gordon and awarded Reno a free kick just outside the penalty area.

"I don't know why the goal was not awarded by the referee but that was the turning point in the game for us," said Reno's technical director, Wendell Downswell.

"Nonetheless, we still got enough chances to have won the game."

Tivoli Gardens had much the better of the early exchanges and should have taken the lead in the third minute. Kasai Hinds found himself with space behind the Reno defence but directed his header from close range wide of the goal.

Prior to the disallowed goal, Reno missed back-to-back chances in the 26th and 30th minutes through McIntosh. First, he got away inside the box and fired wide from a difficult angle. Next time, he dribbled into the box, hesitated and lost possession to the advancing goalkeeper.

Reno should have taken the lead five minutes into the second half when Troy Reid took a neat pass from Nicholi Findlayson on the edge of the penalty area but under pressure, he fired tamely at substitute goalkeeper Edsel Scott.

Tivoli Gardens' goal came when a ball rebounded to Gordon (Owen) in midfield and spotting the Reno custodian out of position, he unleashed his fabulous shot, which had goal written all over it as it travelled goalward at great speed before hitting the back of the net to make the score 1-0.

Finding themselves behind, Reno threw caution to the wind and went all-out in attack. However, despite coming close on a few occasions, they failed in their bid to crack the Tivoli Gardens defence.

The win keeps Tivoli Gardens in the top three with their points tally moving up to 42, while Reno remain trapped in the relegation zone at the bottom of the 12-team standings on 19 points.